Joanikije II

Joanikije II (; 1337– d. 1354) was the Serbian Archbishop (1338–1346) and first Patriarch of the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć (1346–1354). He was elected Serbian Archbishop on January 3, 1338. Prior to his election, he served as a logotet, royal chancellor, to the Kingdom of Serbia.

He was elevated to Patriarch on Palm Sunday, April 6, 1346, done in order for Joanikije to crown King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan as Emperor on Easter of 1346.

Joanikije continued a tradition of church building, and built, among others, two churches in the Holy Land: the Church of St. Elias on Mount Carmel and the Church of St. Nicholas on Mount Tabor. He died on September 3, 1354, which is his feast day. He was buried in the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć.

Life

Joanikije was born in the vicinity of Prizren, an important town in the Kingdom of Serbia. His family was Christian.

Joanikije served as a logotet, royal chancellor, to the Serbian King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan (r. 1331–1346; afterwards as Emperor until 1355).

Archbishop Danilo II died on December 19, 1337. Joanikije was elected Serbian Archbishop on January 3, 1338. Joanikije was designated Patriarch on Palm Sunday, April 6, 1346, done in order for Joanikije to crown King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan as Emperor on Easter of 1346 with the approval of the Patriarch of Trnovo, Archbishop of Ohrid, and community of Mount Athos.

Joanikije II continued a tradition of church building, and built, among others, two churches in the Holy Land: the Church of St. Elias on Mount Carmel and the Church of St. Nicholas on Mount Tabor.

Joanikije II died on September 3, 1354. This has become his feast day. He was buried in the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć.